Locust Grove Institute Academic Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1904-05, this two-story red-brick schoolhouse in Locust Grove, Georgia, was the main classroom building of the Locust Grove Institute, a coeducational Baptist preparatory school founded in 1894. Architect James W. Golucke, known for courthouses, jails and schools, designed it in the Neoclassical style, with brick pilasters, a hipped roof and a six-column wooden portico. It held all classrooms and an auditorium. The school grew into a campus of nearly fifty acres and was supported by eleven Baptist associations. It was among the first preparatory schools in Georgia on the accredited list of the Association of Schools and Colleges of the Southern States, and in 1914 it was chosen to represent the Baptist denomination at an international meeting. The institute closed in 1930 during the Depression, and the other campus buildings were sold for their materials. This building later served as a public school until 1983 and is now used for city offices, the police department and a library branch.
Significance in brief: It is a good example of Neoclassical design for an educational building and one of the last works of architect James W. Golucke. It is the only surviving building of the Locust Grove Institute, a Baptist-supported coeducational preparatory school that was among the first on the Southern accredited list and represented the Baptists at a 1914 international meeting. It also reflects church-sponsored secondary education in Georgia around the turn of the century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 86002179, listed September 4, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3644 GA 42, Locust Grove |
|---|---|
| County | Henry County |
| Listed | September 4, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002179 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1904-05 |
| Architect / builder | James W. Golucke, Architect |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Locust Grove and used as city hall, police department and branch library, with plans for a small museum; restoration was under way. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Locust Grove Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.35213, -84.11417 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 86002179.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17018621
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.